Emernica is a two-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and grandparents. She likes to play dress-up and to go to church with her family. Emernica was born with a heart condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, which means that one of her heart's valves is too small to allow enough blood to flow. As a result, her body does not receive enough oxygen, so she is sickly and weak. Emernica flew to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On December 7, she underwent cardiac surgery, during which surgeons inserted a balloon into the valve and inflated the balloon to stretch the valve. This $10,000 surgery was subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Emernica's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who accompanied Emernica's family overseas. Emernica's mother shares, "We are very excited to know that there is a way to fix Emernica's heart problem!"

Sokhoeun is a 56-year-old farmer who is married with three daughters and four sons. He likes to read books about Buddhism and listen to the radio. One year ago, Sokhoeun developed a mass on his right eyelid. Since then, it gradually increased in size. Sokhoeun had difficulty seeing from his right eye, and he was in pain. When Sokhoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for five hours to seek treatment. He was diagnosed with melanoma. On November 28, surgeons at CSC performed an excision and flap procedure to remove the mass. This procedure will allow Sokhoeun to feel comfortable again. Now, he needs help to pay his $450 medical bill. "I hope to have a normal eye again and no pain," he says.

Meet Daudi! Daudi is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. "He is the fifth and last born in the family," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. Always curious, Daudi likes to observe and play with other children. He's very quick to pick up the activities that he see's the other children participating in, and tries to do the same. Daudi has lived with an enlarged adenoid since birth, making it hard for him to breathe, especially through his nose. The adenoid is a patch of tissue at the back of the nasal passage that catches bacteria and germs trying to enter the body. "He breathes with so much difficulty, especially at night," AMHF tells us. "it sounds as though Daudi is snoring, even when he is not asleep." Coming from a large family, there are not enough resources to pay for Daudi's operation. His mother stays at home with him and his siblings while his father cares for livestock. $488 will cover the cost of treatment for Daudi, his three day hospital stay, and the necessary antibiotics. In the operation, his enlarged adenoid will be removed through his mouth. After the operation, Daudi will be able to breathe through his nose and sleep throughout the night. "If my son could become a doctor, I will be so happy," Daudi's mother shares. "For now, I wish he could breathe without difficulty."

Meet Champa, a 73-year old grandmother from Cambodia! She has two children and six grandchildren, “all of whom she loves playing with when they are at her house,” says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Champa has mature cataracts which cloud the normally clear lenses in both of her eyes. “She has a hard time doing work by herself and sometimes has pain. She can't go to the pagoda as much as she wants or go outside in general very much,” says CSC. For just $225, we can fund surgery that will restore Champa's vision in both eyes. The first surgery will take place on the right eye, and the next surgery will be a few weeks later. The cost includes, surgical, hospital, and medicinal costs. “After surgery, Champa wants to be able to do her own work easily, go to the pagoda and join in Buddhist ceremonies there and take care of her grandchildren more.” Let's help Champa get back to normal and fund this surgery!